For me, a great artist is also a great collaborator. It’s also those who can write that really thrives and survives in a very competitive music industry. So for me to see “Sia Face” as a top google keyword when I was searching for her works is such a disappointment because, even without seeing her face – which is by the way, beautiful – I see so much beauty in her work of art.

Ever since, Pretty Hurts by Beyonce which she wrote, I have been interested in her musical style, voice and lyrical content. She has written songs for Britney, Maroon 5, Kylie Minogue, David Guetta (Bang My Head is my fav!) and a lot more. Of course, who wouldn’t be captured by her hits Chandelier and Dusk ‘Til Dawn?

So when I heard that MAC is collaborating with SIA through a limited ed lippie, I immediately bought one. It’s also really great that it’s also a Viva Glam lippie as EVERY SINGLE PESO from the selling price of Viva Glam Lipsticks and Lipglass goes toward helping women, men and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Now the box looks really nice as Sia has a nice signature and few letters for ther “logo”. The red color of the font leads us to the color inside. On the tube, you can also see the logo/signature on a classic Viva Glam tube that’s colored red as well.

Swatching the lippie, it is indeed a warm vivid red as the MAC website puts it. It has a matte finish that’s not too much to dry the lips. Of course, pigmentation and consistency is always on point by Viva Glam.

Comparing it to the classic Ruby Woo red of MAC, it is indeed a warmer red but not so far in that spectrum as you can see in comparison with a classic blue-toned red. This is definitely a lipstick that i can alternate with the my fave Ruby Woo.

Overall, I really love this lipstick for all of the qualities I’ve mentioned. I look forward to a part 2 of this collab, maybe an avante-garde shade? 😉

When I saw Nikkietutorials (the queen of high-coverage funda) review Dermacol (alongside other Yt and Ig videos where the pigment erased the existence of tattoos, marks etc), I got really interested in this product. It’s not that I have a lot to hide haha but I have those shaving marks, lines and scars in my legs that I sometimes have to think of.

So Dermacol arrived in PH through this site P850, and they sent me a tube in the shade 207, which is the closest to the NC25 reference (208 is cooler though). The packaging is not at all luxurious though it’s in gold, but the text says how it’s a studio makeup that covers (so I think this is not just a foundation). It also has SPF 30, it is hypoallergenic and made in Europe.

Because also, upon swatching, it felt like a concealer that instantly covered everything initially, from lines, to pores. I used my Fujifilm f2 lens to focus on its texture and SHOOKT as I was, pigment did come through.

On its wet stage, the only problem I saw was the fine line under my eyes but it did really erase the black cover and flattened the surface under light.

It’s heavy but it doesn’t feel that much and application might be a little hard because it looks and feels a concealer. A pea-sized amount is so creamy and heavy and loaded with pigment but when you use a beauty blender, it applies on smoothly and evenly (little dabbing). But since the texture is very much like a concealer, you need a hydrating base under it to do it even more easily. A silicone primer wouldn’t work in this formula as it will just make it too heavy.

It is also not adviseable to use a thick powder to set it. I use a finishing/blotting/transparent powder to make it dry and see that above, under day light, even the pores in the nose looked flawless.

Above full length images show under day light and rigng light (right, full-faced makeup), without flash and it looked really perfect. Nonetheless, when used with flash, it has a slight white cast.

The gallery above further proves the pigmentation and coverage given the small amount of product, on the temp tattoo I placed on my legs days before. So amazing!!!

Overall, I am really impressed by this product and the hype is real, especially for the price and the amount of pigment in just a small amount (which means it will last you for long). If there is just also one concern: Staying power. It lasts for around 4-5 hours but retouching it becomes so difficult because it cakes when you use a high coverage powder and when using a blotting or setting powder, you have to use a fix+ first to perfect the base. It slightly moves and becomes oily.

I will repurchase this and use these during shoots and special events but might not be advisable for everyday wear. The coverage and finish though? Just stunning.

2 years ago, when matte liquid lippies were really getting famous, I got amazed by a version that one lipstick that was glittery yet turns matte. I realized that this kind of finish just plumps and gives my small lips a dimension with a much comfortable wear than lip glosses that just transfers everywhere. This year, I saw a lot of brands, especially department store ones that released their metallic liquid lipsticks and everything just got more exciting!

In this post, I’ll be reviewing different metallic lippie lines from 7 brands that caught my attention. Let’s start first with the one of the pioneers, LA SPLASH. They called theirs the Lip Lustre [PHP 600 approx] which had the same formula (yes, drying yet super pigmented!) as the Lip Couture but with glitters that dry matte. I like how dimensional the finish and luxurious the glitter look like especially when matte. I also saw a similar product from COLOURPOP [PHP 600 approx] but with a more true metal (non-glittery) finish.

Months after, KYLIE releases KyMajesty [PHP1300 approx] which the first ever metallic lippie from the brand, which shookt the market with intense pigment and glitter.

This 2017, I first saw SLEEK launch their Metallic line* [PHP 450] following their famous Matte Me lippies. By definition, metallic lippies shouldn’t be so glittery and Sleek achieved that perfectly with their formula, and with an affordable price. I especially like how lightweight it is on the lip despite the heavy metals.

BYS also launched their Metal Lips Creme Lipstick [PHP 400] with colors and pigmentation that are just beyond expectations esp for the price! The level of opacity and vibrancy is just 100%, perfect for editorial and trendy looks.

With a different formula, NYX released Cosmic Metals [PHP 450 approx]* with a variety of nude shades. These are not matte, and for me, the feel and finish is similar to a lip gloss (or glass) that has loads of glitter. While kind of heavy on the lip, these give a more metallic finish than a glittered lip gloss.

MAKEUP FACTORY also released a different version that’s called Pearly Mat* [PHP 800 ] , as part of their tribe collection. It has a finish thats in between metallic-glittery-pearl,varying on the shades as you can see below. I like how this one dries quickly with an airy and creamy feel and lasts long too!

I sorted the swatches according to the colors as you can see below for better comparison and appreciation and let’s start with the copper and golden tones that look especially good on morena skin tones.

Sleek in Roman Copper

ColourPop in Zebra

BYS in Copper penny

BYS in Bronzed Medal

Makeup Factory in Golden Cocoa

The above shades and swatches are actually my top favorites amongst all the featured products in this blog. They just gave intense pigment and brilliance (esp for BYS) with a true metallic finish.

Now with rosy warm tones, the shades below are less metallic and opaque but more matte and glittery (esp for BYS and NYX) than the above colors. I am not a fan of these hues alone, as I would like to wear them as topper.

NYX in Crushed Metal

BYS in GOlden rose

Sleek in Dusty Rose

Makeup Factory in Tribal Rose

And lastly, the cool-toned and, dark shades! I am really impressed by how intense and unique the color of BYS Metal Lips are. As you can see, the Kylie lippie is so glittery than metallic, Makeup Factory’s other shades are more pearly and creamy , and that LA SPLASH just has hints of glitter on their matte formula.

Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation is definitely one of my beauty favorites this 2017. (see how used and abused the liquid and powders are below haha!) When it was launched early this year, I got so excited because I only knew this line through that lip duo 6-7 years ago which I think was one of the most long-wearing lippies I’ve tried ever. Now, the brand has a “Total Cover” variant that has a liquid foundation, concealer & corrector palettes.

Total Cover promises a 24-hr wear with lightweight feel and natural finish. It covers dark spots, blemishes, scars, and hyperpigmentation for a flawless coverage. Formulated with high loads of pigment, it glides on easily and feels fresh all day. (Source: lorealparisusa.com)

In this post, I will be focusing on the liquid foundation more because this is my favorite from the line. There are 6 shades sent to me but there 10 available – which is kind of similar to the Pro-Matte. I actually never got to select the right shade for me but I loved it so much that I kept all and just mixed some shades to find my true match.

I found my shade in 305 Natural Beige which is the closest to my skin tone. I swatched the foundation without anything under and you can see below how it made my skin flawless in an instant. While application is not easier compared to Pro-Matte because this has a kind of creamy/mousse formula, this lasts even longer which is just superb for the price of PHP 700.

While there is a tendency to cake because the foundation is already high coverage in just one layer, it truly covered everything that I didn’t need a concealer anymore.

With powder, there’s is just a slight tendency to cake as well because of the creamy formula so while I used the Infallible Pro-Matte here, I use this product with a transparent loose powder only to make sure it’s really flawless.

On the nose, it doesn’t look so flawless in application so I suggest to put a minimal amount, and to use a moisturizer under to make sure that it will glide easily.

Overall though, I would repurchase and recommend this foundation. They have the same qualities as Pro-Matte except for the ones above, but I would use this during the non-summer days more.

#Internationallipstickday or month is over but in our world, there’s no such thing right? It’s everydaaaay! So let me swatch all of my new lippies this year in different series and starting that off with NUDES 😉

…But the pink/rosy kinds of nudes (kinda desaturated/muted) which I have been liking lately for everyday use or if I have overdone my eye makeup 😉

It will also be my first time reviewing some liquid lippies from brands like Cathy Doll, H&M Beauty (yes, they’re here!! Stay tuned on my blog for that!), BYS and Sephora. However, I will be making the reviews deeper as we touch other shades from their lines.

When it comes to rosy/pink nudes, I choose the rosy ones which are typically warmer than the cool nude pinks.

In terms of color, I am usually gravitated towards the bottom part of this arm swatch. They look nicer on my tone and just brightens my complexion.

Now these rosy/pink nudes are all matte. I actually pre-selected the brands here and they are all working for me.

As you can see above, Sleek Birthday Suit which I’ve reviewed here, is always my reference point. It’s just a warm pink (sometimes orangey) that guides me on the right undertone to select. The 6 shades that follower after it are rosy warm shades that I like.

Now for the lip swatches (where I didn’t use daylight so it will tend to appear darker), see below gallery.

Cathy Doll Nude Me in Moss Rose [PHP 399]* – This has to be the most matte of them all and a true warm rosy shade. It dries quickly and I really love the pigment, consistency (coz of the flexi wand). It just feels a bit heavy on the lip and cracks when lasts longer but perfect for the first 1-3 hours!

Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 06 [PHP 799]* – One of my favorite formulas of affordable liquid lipstick. Doesn’t really dry my lips and the pigment is really high. 06 is a cool pink on my arm but turns to be a little warm on my lip.

Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 13 [PHP 799]*- 13 is very close to Birthday Suit color.

BYS Velvet Lips in Guilty Taupe [PHP 399] – Velvet Lips is a very nice and affordable choice for liquid lippy. Very pigmented and liquidy and comes in lots of colors – you will see more of this soon. My only problem is it dries slower than the rest but the wear is fabulous. This Taupe is a muted color but has a hint of rose. Really unique.

BYS Velvet Lips in Wicked Plum [PHP 399]* – I don’t think this is plum as I can see more of pink but is very close to Shabby Chic and just a lovely mid-toned pink.

Colourette Liquid Lacquer in Vieja [PHP 599] – I will share more about this line from the brand in the next posts because I just love it. On the lip it appeared darker and muted which I love.

Pink Sugar Lip & Cheek Stain in Vieja [PHP 349]* – The most affordable but performing line as well as I have reviewed here. This color looks kinda peachy and more pigmented than the reference but looked lovely on my lip!

Sleek Matte Me in Shabby Chic [PHP 450] – I have reviewed this line many times and this pink color which was release just las year and renov-ed this year (with a better wand – same as Birthday Suit) is just a wearable pink for any skin tone.

H&M Liquid Lipstick in Enchante [local price to be revealed soon] – is the coolest pink in this set. I will be attending their launch event next week and Ill get to know more about this but the pigment and feel of the product is outstanding. It’s creamy but dries velvety matte and not too drying. Formula to watch for!

Last year, I started buying eyeshadow palettes not available locally and one of my favorite is the Kylie Burgundy Palette (PHP 2100). It is just trendy yet wearable in the selection of colors and just truly pigmented, from mattes to metallics.

So I was receiving some new items from brands this year and noticed that there is something similar to this famous palette by Kylie Jenner. I mean, not truly similar as the famous BYS Berries palette is popularly known as a dupe for Modern Renaissance but you’ll get what I mean later, together with newly launched Peach Purrfect palette by local brand Colourette Cosmetics.

You can see how I just love this palette with how messy it is!

While not really so exactly the same shades as some vary in temperature, but I can definitely mix and match the shades to mimic the Kylie palette. The below arm swatch shows my favorites from all three palettes.

Let’s start with Berries (PHP 1200)*. This is one true favorite this year. The selection of colors, consistency and level of pigments especially from the matte ones are outstanding. There are nudes, oranges and YASSSS, a cool-toned purplish red as a surprise. It comes of a bit powdery but it’s creamy especially for the high pigments.

Using the key shades I compared above, see how pigmented and bold the color is! And blending is just easy. No wonder a lot of people love this palette.

Now using the semi-identical shades from Kylie on the other side of my eye, it really comes off kinda same except that the left is cooler, while right is warmer.

I’m kinda sure that if I have mixed some orange to the cool red on the left, it would have been the same. And see how the consistency and level of pigment of the two are close!

OK. Let’s move to the newly launched palette by one new brand in The Philippines that’s really doing well with its launches. This Peach Purrfect (PHP900)* palette doesn’t look peachy to me. It actually is kinda more like Kylie’s selection of colors and the winning shades from this palette are the metallic ones. See how beautiful that bronze and gold are!!! They’re creamy and color payoff is the bomb (especially for the price).

Mixing the bronze and burgundy metallic shades on my eyes, it looks sophisticated and well-blended!

Now applying the identical shades from Kylie, here I couldn’t see much difference really!!

So even if the arm swatch above (in daylight) appeared a bit different in temperature, upon blending, the below shows how great this palette is, especially versus a $42 product.

So when you’re thinking of buying the Burgundy palette, check these two affordable ones!! If you want that Burgundy red from Kylie or shades that you don’t have in your kit yet, you can consider buying Peach Purrfect or Berries for half the price. 😉

Peach is so hot right now in the beauty world. But if you have been reading my blog for 6 years, orange is one my go-to colors for eyes and lips as it just suits my warm undertone. When I tried peach on my eyes, I just got that instant blooming effect as I would usually get from orange. I think I’ll be wearing more of this color!

So my take is a monochromatic yet glossy and shiny peach. Just like a juicy tube! I started off with the newest release from BYS Philippines, the Peach palette which just screams all the colors I ever wanted in a palette.

The Peach palette compose mostly of really pigmented warm shimmer shades but there’s this one matte color in the middle that is my favorite!

On my eyes, with a bushy brow using the new MAKE UP FO EVER Brow product brow liner which has super sharp edges, the peachy orange color on my lid looks just so fruity!

I then decided to play! I thought of placing a lip gloss on top of the shadow on my lid and it turned out really juicy!

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For the cheeks, I used these orange-y monos from MAKE UP FOR EVER irridescent shadows in I-752 and I-745 , the new glitters from BYS, and top it all of with this LA SPLASH glitters in Fuzzy Flamingo.

The highlight is courtesy of this new Scult & Glow which made the finish a little but wet, and the lips with the new MAX Factor Matte lippy in 10 Sunkiss which is just so creamy matte and pigmented.

Of course, the look will be complete with my newest launch at www.mikkigalang.com/shop, The Peary lace front wig. It’s a salmon pink wavy (kinda messy) styled angled cut bob which makes the overall look not so polished yet so peach perfect.

Last year’s blogversaries (In Green Sun, and The #BenefitLovesMikki workshops) were very successful and I would like to thank you all for the continuous support that you give this blog and all of my activities and brands. For my 6th year celebration, I thought of having an online activity instead that would showcase our identities and creativities.

Instagram has become a tool for self-expression for all of us – MUA’s, influencers, etc – but we can raise the bar higher by owning the trends and making it our own. As such, my giveaway and contest is all about that.

There are a lot of brands/sponsors that I got for this activity (THANKS TO THEM!!!) so the mechanics are below and don’t be afraid to be really creative BY POSTING YOUR UNIQUE BEAUTY LOOK OR YOUR OWN TAKE ON A CERTAIN BEAUTY TREND. There is a total of 100,000 worth of products that I will be giving away and I’m excited to share these all to you!

Interact with me be sharing your thoughts on my IG (like a commenter of the month)

Repost the below campaign poster on FB & IG and end it with “ Happy 6th blogversary @MikkiGalangDotCom! Get the chance to WIN over 100K worth of beauty loot bags from her favorite beauty brands. Full mechanics on mikkigalang.com!” Tag 3 of your friends.

In support of my new brand, Repost any of my pics from my shop on your FB & IG and why do you like it. End it with, “Shop now at www.mikkigalang.com/shop”

THEN MOST IMPORTANTLY…

POST A MAKEUP LOOK OF YOUR OWN and caption how you are living that look, and why is it unique to you, using any products from participating brands. Tag the brands and mention products you used.

Don’t forget to tag me and use the hashtag #mikkigalang6thblogversary #mikkigalang100kgiveaway so I can track.

Most creative entries WIN!

The grand winner will get this loot:

5 winners will receive each of the ff (not included in photo: P500 voucher from Eika Swimwear)*lipstick brands will vary *Kanebo/Lunasol products will vary as well:

It’s been a while since I review hair care because there are only just a few brands and products that work for my oily and thinning scalp. One of them is this pink variant of the Palmolive Intensive Moisture which I alternate sometimes with my staple hair care ever since college.

At first, the creamy texture of both the shampoo and conditioner (even years before) kind of hesitated me to use them because I usually get dandruff from these due to my oily scalp. But it has never been that way for this line, especially with the newest one.

If there’s one change that I noticed, that would the scent that has slightly strengthened but didn’t bother me even as a user of this brand. There’s a warm fruity floral scent that doesn’t get smell “maasim” throughout the day.

Now let’s review its performance. I stopped using my current hair care to make way for an honest review of this. As you all know, my hair has been damaged through lots of bleaching and coloring and it has become frizzy and dry since last year.

However, I can see that even after just a few days, the level of moisture it gives is so nice. I don’t like too creamy conditioners to make my hair soft and hydrated.

Before

After few days

Zooming in, I can see how the moisture is more visible without making it look dull versus other cream conditioners ive tried.

Even when I shot it yesterday with no straightener, I felt good about my hair.

Overall, I have always liked Palmolive Intensive Moisture. Both shampoo and conditioner have always worked for my hair type and in managing dryness. You can get your samples at SampleRoom.PH!

In the wake of its 2016 new fragrance for men, Abercrombie & Fitch is pleased to announce the launch of ‘First Instinct’ for Women, developed exclusively with Inter Parfums.

‘First Instinct’ for Women is inspired by that first moment of attraction, when two people’s worlds collide and a spark is ignited. It is the fragrant interpretation of that exciting first glance and initial connection. That very moment can’t be defined in words, nor can it be anticipated.

Like the Abercrombie & Fitch woman, she is truly unique, unlike any other in her originality, as well as effortlessly beautiful. She knows how to follow her first instinct with innate style, charm and femininity.

Developed by Fabrice Legros (Studio Pi), the design is “based upon a rectangular construction, yet with roundness that conveys femininity.” I like that the clear glass with a light pink metal cap is so feminine yet so stylish. I like these shades of pink!!

“I feel that First Instinct for Women is at once playful, feminine, and alluring says master perfumer Laurent le Guernec (IFF). “With a sensual opening, a sparkling development and a trail of irresistible yet effortless seduction, this formula was crafted to ensure captivation.”

The fragrance is definitely floriental. It may come off as strong floral, but I like that it has a nice fading to a creamy musky scent. Below are the notes.